39fCENTRALINTEUJGENCE AGENCY ThiI ImaIeI-ial contain inlarma un aliechng the Halicnal Dulenie a UnHod Shh-1 within H1 meaning In the Ewmnaqu La-w l3 U 5 C 51- I33 and lh lummiuion 01' revclnion 0' fth in an manner To an uraulhonur Int-Hon II nruhilziled by law CLASSIFICATION DISSEMIHATION CONIHIJLS NO FOREIGN DISSEM A COUNTRY SOUTH VIETNAM REPORT wof Rt SUBJECT NGDI BITCH ON THE DISTR 23 AUGUST '1 1 963 EL TE I1 AND PRECEDEIICE PRIORITY HIS DISINTEREST IN LEADERSHIP DATE OF REFERENCES 22 RUGUST I963 RRD AR STATED LACE VIETNAM DAIGON RR 196 APPRAISAL SEE BELOW 1 5 FIELD REPORT NO 5 UNEVALUATED INFORMATION SOURCE GRADINGS ARE DEFINITWE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE I EGO STIITED ON 22 1963 TIUKT H3 3 0T TED TI-E DECISION TO TAKE l lNuJ THE IIUC-UST 1963 HE SAID IT WAS INITIATEII BY TIE GENERAL OFFICE-I413 IN A WITH FREE DIEM ES A RES OF THEIR WITH TIE EUIJDHIET CRISIS FEED THE FEAR CF VIE-T GONG ELM-BED SOUP UN 25 AUGUST EGO HHU DIEM IS DIET FIGURE WHO HOLDS THE ERRED FORCES TOGETHER AND THAT IF HE THERE WOULD HM THAT EVERYONE HIDICUIES TEE IDEA OF VICE EFESIEN P1160 CHE MID THAT IE THU HPLD H0 TASTE FOR SUCCESSICN MID REFUSE AN INCHIITIM SHIP PAID HA HILPERATIVE TEF TILE STATES ASSIST THE BUDDHIE 3338 T0 SEEK A SOLUTION OF THE CRISIS CLASSIFICATION DISSEMINATIDN CONTROLS ECO FOREIGN 1315513 aZMIg-uarmq wr I va I JCS Elston 115 I AID lusul OCI I OCR I can on TELEGRAM I A I SANITIZEU ENC 3526 35 FORM 1 Kb 1 3 PPEVIOUS 1-1 5 52 05401 3 - 1 up I CONTROLS PAGE NO FOREIGN DISSEM TWO 2 NBC SAID THAT VARIOUS GENERAL OFFICERS RAVE EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION TO-I PRESIDENT DIEM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TEE BUDDHIST CRISIS IN RUE ON 8 MAI 1962 TERI RAVE FELT TRAT TEE FIRM AND CONSISTENT POIICI HAS NOT BEEN FOIIORED AND TERI RAVE BEEN IMFATIENT WITH TEE VIOLATIONS OF IAN AND ORDER THE INCIDENT IN DA NANC INVOLVING TEE SEATING OF THE ARMI OF TEE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ARNN OFFICER AND THE SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM BI TEE BONEES RESUITING IN TEE SERIOUS ROUNDING OF THE OFFICER BURNING OF THE JEEP AND SEIZURE OF TEE WEAPON PROVED TO BE TEE LAST STEAM FOR TEE ARMED FORCES IEADERSHIP TEEN COULD NOT ACCEPT TEE INSULT AND ASSUAIT OF MIIETARI PERSONNEL IN TEE STREETS AT THE HANDS OF THE SCENES BRIGADIER GENERAI IE VAN NGEIEM FIRST CORPS BUDDHIST RIMSEIF AND CONSIDERED SIMPATNETIC TO TEE BUDDHISTS NECTE A PERSONAL LETTER TO TRICN TINR KIET PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF VIETNAMESE BUDDHISTS CANE FROTESTINO TEE INSUIT TO TEE ARMED FORCES 3 THE GENERAL OFFICERS IED SI MAJOR GENERAL TRAN VAN DON ARVN COMMANDER INITIATED TEE SO AUGUST MEETING RITE DIEM BEFORE TRIS MEETING DIEM RAD NOT REACRED A DECISION ON TEE IRECISE COURSE TO EONEVER FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE OR FOUR DANS RE RAD RECCONIEED THE NEED TO MAKE SOME KIND OF DECISION AND EFFECT THAT THE VIET CONS EC MERE PLANNING A COOP ON 25 AUGUST IN CONJUNCTION WITH TEE BONNER STUDENTS AND WORKERS TEE VC TROOPS PLANNED TO TAKE UP POSITIONS ON THE APPROACRES TO THE CAPITAL AND TO INTENSIFI ACTION ACROSS THE IAO BORDER THE GENERAIS RECOMMENDED TEE ESTABIISEMENT OF MARTIAL IAN AND ACTION - AGAINST CONTROLS I H0 FOREIGN DISSEM LS ON63O NO FOREIGN DISSEN PAGE THREE TEE BUDDHIST AND WISEED T0 AND SECURITY DEM mm REQ TEST AT THE SAME TIME DIEM SAID THAT THE OF VIETNAM IS SUICIDES AND MURDERS BUT WEE MEASURES BEGTJIIN WITH MEIER ON OUR OWN PART HH ASKED THE IO MINING AND INS OINISAIS HISINOID IHOI COULD NOT PROMISE BUT NOOID DO IHNII SIS-I DIIN ALSO SAID HI WAS NOT CHANGING HIS BASIC IOLIOI OI TO SOLIS INN INDLIISI ON BASIS OF NSU STATED TEATIL HE IAS NOI PRESEIIFT AI- ISIS EUETLNG AND SAD NOT DESI OONSUIIHO HI DIHN OI IHS II THAT TEE MARTIAL IAN QUESTION HAD NOT LINEN HIS NITO AID IHAT NS NAS UNAI JANE OF SPECIFIC PLANS OI AS IIJIHSI AND IAOODAS HOWEVER HE SISSHO OS I IINIS HIS OIA I - OI HOT-N ISISI IIASUSNS N NHU SAID THAI HE SUISSOUSNIIN SAD NNIISASSD NASIIAI LAW NOUID INST FOR ONLI 1 8 HONNS IN OMB IO ONION AS II II OSASI OI IISIOHISN ONES THO SUDDHISIS HISSOISHD SI BONES THION IINH NOISE HEAD OF THE BUDDHIST SIIJDINIS OI SWISS SAID AND INIOI OUANO HEAD OF THE CENTRAL VIETNAM SECFEEDN OI IHH IO IAOODAS SIINO OSHO AS A CENTER OI HS OH Am ON AND IO ESTASIISH OI ISO II 1 I-ISIOH NO IAN IND CHEER COULD IHOOIHD 5 AT POINT AITHI TE SERIALS IISIIND NED IIHANH AND Dma IHOIOSID IO NIO THAT HS IO THAT DION IEJWE SAIOON DURING THE ACTION OONIINIIAISD AND GO TO SONS OIHHS IANT OF SOUTH VIETNAM CLASSIFICFITIONH EM CUNI ROLE - N-G DISSEM CONTROLS 1N OA63O NO FOREISN DISSEN FOUR SUCH AS DAIAT THE PROPOSAL WAS ASEAPENTLE BAEDGETEE FEEIING THAT THIS RESPONSIBILITI SHOULD NOT DENOIAE ON DEAN TOD TEDXEAATEDL AT THE SAME TIME THEE ASKED NHU TO REMAIN IN SAT-SSE AND SAID HEAT NEITHER HE NOR THEY HAD POIITIOAL THEN ASKED WEETBER THE GELNEBAIS NERD ATTENDANT To SUB- STITUTE NHU FOR DIEM NED R l IN TIE AESATIAE AND ADDED THAT HE DID NOT ENDS WHETHER THEIR SUSSESTIDN HAS A ETD OT SDNEIDENDE IN HAN OR NHETHER THEE WANTED TO KEEP HIM IN SAISON AS A HOSTASE HS ANSNERED THE SENERAES TO THE ERNEST THAT ANT DECISION TO TEASE DA THE AND THAT HE HIMSELF ASSESS UNDER THE ORDERS OE DEM TEES NAS NO NDRE TAT-E ON THIS SUBJECT NHU HE DELETED DEN ADELE-N NIT-H THE GENERAL OFFICERS IS GOOD HUT HE DIAEAS THAT HE SEES THENDAIE DA THE GENERAL DENISE-RS HE CONSIDERS STATEN ISIANH THE TA EDT 6 NET STATED TEAT BUBJIIG THIS HEIDI TL IAENEEAJLS STATED TEAT TEST HAD SWOBN AN DATE OF EDTADIT TO THE NANA TDD MW TEES AS A MERELY VERBAL AOT NON IN THE ADTION TESS HERE US ASAENST THE BUDDHIST IEADERSHIR TEST HERE SRDNEIS IN DAT-1T FNMA NRA STAINS THAT AUTHORITT SITE AISLES HORSES HEADLINE DESSERTS AND DNAATAIRED DIANA IS SHEET ON THE ADDED STORIES TEE ERDDIANATION OF MARTIAL IAN DELIHERAAELA DESI-ED TEE IAN TA TEE SEDUAITI SR THE NATION AND DID NOT E-ETEND IT TO PCWEBE DIES DAN THAI HE HAD TO THE SINERAIS TOEORRDN IE NEOISSARI II HE RETREATS SN TEE BUDDHIST QUESTION OR 01 TE ISSUE CPI ER 1F BE VACILT ESTES AND CONTROLS ND FC- IEI DISSEE 7 1 R0 DISSEM CONTROLS 1 011-630 PAGE FIVE - OOITRORESES READER THE OERERAIS RIDI- BED DR IE IDES EDI AS HELL AS THE BUDDHIST LEADERS BE RUST SHOW HIMSELF FIRM IR IS DEM HAS HOT BROKEN HIS PROMISE ARD SEEKS A JUSTS OR THE ST CREST-TOR WHICH IS NOT ORLI HIS PERSORAL POLICE BUT THE DESIRED BI TEE THE CURREDE AOTIOR IS DIRECTED ORLI ASADIST TEE ADD RADICAL LEADERSHIP 0F THE-BUDDHIST MOVEMENT T SAID THAT HE FEELS THAT MARTIAL DAR ES ITSSIE SOLVE THING BUT PROVIDES ORLI TBE ADRITITOR TOR SOIDTIORI THE RE - ESTABLISDIERT OE ORDER ARD OE IIESOTIATIOR RE REM-ARIES THAT HE THERE THAT TEE UNITED DESIST ZEN PEHSUADEIG TEE TO SEEK OF TEE ISSUED TS DE 11 BELT-GIOUS PLILEEI URIESS SUCH A SOIDTIOR OAR BE AORIEIRD THERE OAR BE A SOUR AS TDE GOES OR ARR AS THE OERIERAL 5-33 TO ROI-JED AT THE SAME TIME RED SAID ITLAT TEE WTZZIP ARE DIS-SISTERS ARD THAT THE AIMEE FORCES 3AT THE PRESENT TD1E REMAIR I- D THE STIR OIRTROI 8 FROM THE TERI-I OE ASST-TIES OR 022 DIET-E PG NIH STATED THAT THE 0F STARTED-I EAR BE TO THE DIES ADI-DEISIRATIOR HE ROI-OERTED THAT THE RABDIET MIR ISI IRS HO-D IRS SIDE OEIRIOR ARD SAID THAT THE GENERAL OERIOERS ARE ARARE IRE IE DS 13 IARD THE OARDIET VIEWS OR THIS SUBJECT 9 THAT THE UNITED STATES9 BESIARATIOR DDIORDIO ORR AOTIOR WOUID STIMULATE COREUSIOR ARD URDERMIRE ROBERT-OR VETNAM BE CLAIMED CONTROLS RO EOREISR DISSER NO FOREIGN DISSEM CONTROLS 01630 FAGESIX THAT ARE NOT REPRESSING BUDDHISTS BUT ONLN A FEW FANATIC THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT BROKEN HIS I 10 WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTION AGAINST THE BUDDHISTS ON 20 21 AUGUST NHU SAID ALL THE GENERAL OFFICERS AND THE HEADS OF SERVICES WERE JOINED TOGETHER AT THE GENERAL STAFF THAT NIGHT AND ENGAGED IN COORDINATED ACTION HE SAID I THAT HE FEELS THEY HAD PREPARED THEIR ACTION PLANS SOME TIME IN ADVANCE AND WERE CONSEOEENTIN ABLE TO CARRI OUT EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS CLAIMS TO HAVE HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF SPECIFIC PLANS INVDINED HE ALso- CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE ENCOURAGED THE GENERALS EITHER FOR MARTIAL LAN OR TO TAKE RESULTING ACTIONS AGAINST THE BUDDHIST CHIEFS AND PAGODAS HOWEVER HE REPEATED HIS AGREEMENT WITH BOTH ACTIONS 11 RED STATED THAT THE CABINET MINISTERS HAD NOT BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT MARTIAL LAW OR THE OPERATION AGAINST THE BUDDHISTS THEE WERE FURIOUS AND DEPRESSED LATER DIEM EHPIAINED TO THE CABINET MINISTERS HIS FAILURE TO CONSULT WITH THEM DID NOT MEAN LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN DIEM FELT HE HAD TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITI PERSONAIIN AS AN ACT OF CIVIC COURA-A ALSO IF THE ACTION AGAINST THE BUDDHIST FAILED MINISTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN SUSPECTED BI THE GENERALS OF LEAEING THE PLANS AND MIGHT HAVE INCURRED THEIR RETALIATION 12 HEN SAID TOLERATE THE EONEES RETURN TO IEGAIITI WE WILL TREAT THEM AS MEMBERS OF THE 13 WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE CRISIS AT RUE UNIFERSITI NHU SAID IT OCCURRED BECAUSE CAO VAN IUEN NASHINGTUN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO AND RETURNED CDNYEOLS NO FOREIGN DISSEM Pal - NO FOREIGN DISSEM CLASSIFICATION D155 CONTROLS IN OA63O PAGE SEVEN TO SPREAD THE NORD THAT THE DIEM ADMINISTRATION HAS FINISHED AND ITS DAYS NUMBERED IUAN HAD EECITED THE HUE UNIVERSITI STUDENTS TO STRIKE AND HAD PROPAGANDIZED TO THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS NECESSARI TO REPLACE THE ADMINISTRATION THE REGIONAL DELEGATE NGUYEN KHAN KHUONGJ HAD RECOMMENDED DISMISSAL AND THE ARMI LEADERSHIP HAD BECOME DISSATISFIED BECAUSE OF NEWS AGITATION I IN NHU CONEENTED THAT IF DIEM DIES OR LEAVES THE COUNTRI THERE WILL BE EIARCHI EVEN HIS NORMAL DEATH HILL RESULT IN A AND DANGEROUS SITUATION UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS VICE PRESIDEIT NGUIEN NGOC THO WOULD REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITI NHU REMARKED THAT EVERIONE RIDICULES THE IDEA 0F SUCCESSION THE PROBABILITI IS THAT THE REVOIUTIONARY WOULD ESTABLISHED TO CONDUCT EVINTUAL ELECTIONS THERE WQUID NOT BE A CONSTITUTIONAL GUCCESSION NHU SAID THAT HE HAS NO TASTE FOR ATE NOULD REEUSE TO ATTEMPT AN INTERIM LEADERSHIP PENDING FORMATION OF A m GOVERNMENT DIEM IS THE ONLI FIGURE NHO HOLDS THE ARMED FORCES TOGETHER AND RITE HIS DISAPPEARANCE DISUNITI OP ADDED FORCES NOULD BECOME SERIOUS AFTER THIS REGIME THERE HILL BE ONLI A SCRANEIE OF PERSONS FOR POHER IN CONTRAST TO THE INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF DENOCRACI NHICH THE PRESENT ADNEVISTEATION IS ATTENTING TO CONSTRUCT IS TRIING TO GIVE BIRTH TO DEMOCRACI AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS THROUGH THE STRATEGIC HAMIET PROGRAM REPUBLICAN TOUTH AND OTHER NEASURES AND PROGREMSUI FROM CONTENT OF NHU CONCERTS AND THE MANNER IN WHICH HE PRESENTED THEN THE INTRESSION HAS GIVEN THAT HE HAS NOT A CENTRAL OR IMPORTANT PARTICIPANT IN ANY IMMEDIATE SENSE IN THE PRESIDENT 3 DECISION OR IN - N0 FOREIGN DISSEM CONTROLS CONTROLS I- - THE GENERAL AND ACTION IN SOME NAIS EE OAVE TEE IMPRESSION OF OESEEVINO THESE DEVEIOPNENIS FROM THE PENIPHENI DESPITE HIS APPROVAL OF THE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS APPE0VAI NEIOE HE OIAIMS TO HAVE GIVEN NE GAVE NO INENESSION OF BEING A PRIME NOVEE NITE TEE GENERAL OFFICERS OEEVIIVVIIE 16 DISSEN STATE AEMI NAVI AIR USNAOV MAAO AID USIA 2ND AIR DIVISION 9TH EIELE STATION OINOPAO PAOFIE PAOAE AEPAO END OF MESSAGE CONTROLS -- I I I N0 FOREIGN DISSEM - - - HION REPORT CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY This mahrial can-llama anorrnalmn JFfocl'inq Iht Nd onal Defense 91' Uni'red Sfo'ct within 1h munfng up 13 33 and Hm cr reveh on oi in any manne 1 an unaulho an pong-1 prohfbilgd by ray CLASSIFICATION CONTROLS U US Sec -0- 1 1- 1 11 101111 1 111111 COUNTRY SOUTH REPORT NO IUJI IREEUT SUBJECT DIEM FITS 01 DATE DISTR 23 JET 1 95 10111111I1 1111111 1111111111 111111 DIEM PRECEDENCE PFIURETY 11 111 111 11111111111 -1 L1 111111 R -P 21 111111 1963 111 11 111111 11111 $653 111111 11111 @1 m1m111111 DATE ACQ FFELD REPORT NO INFORMATION SOURCE GRADINGS ARE DEFINITWE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TEHTATIVE APPRAISAL a is UNEVAL Ai i EIGHT PACE '13 ABOVE NUMBER 1 15 ISSUED ON 13 3 PAT-13 15 FE AS FOL-110343 1963 11111 111 111111 1111111 111 1110111W1 11111 TUE SPECIFIC El 1 1 11 PGLJ 31' HE 11513 111310 11 013 33 1'11 WAS 110111111 EL AND FIFTH 11 7 5 EMT THAT TEE M-TIVED FORCES MILE 1111111 Emu I Elc udl'd hum 0rd drt onI-Ftulon CLASSIFICATION DISSEMINATION CONTROLS IIO F031 1le 1 00 19 0 Intimacy Raw 1 1 I JCS sewer 1-51 MIC I A15 115ml DCI i on OCH I 01111511 STATEIDIR TELEGRAM I OMEN A 0 1 TE EGRAM SANFHZED E11 13521 SEC 3 15 21 51731 - OBSOLETE PREVIOUS EDITIONS 111-121 1111311 NARA 03119111 I CONTROLS 02 530 1 05070 N0 FOREIGN CORRECT TWO IN HANDS HS NOT SEEM AS SUSS OF THIS AS HE CLAIMED TO SS HE IS OBVIOUSLI AWARE OF THE DANGERS IN THE PRESENT SITUATION AND OF FUTURE DANGERS POTENTIAL mm I-ISU MAY NOT DECESSARILY FEEL HE COULD SURVIVE SIS HIS CLAIM TO HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE ST CCESSIOBJ IF HIS LEWES THE SCENE IS NOT ACCEPTED END OF 1 31153 CLASSIFICAIIUH 11 ION CONTROLS BIO FOREIGN DISSEM This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu Read related article New Light in a Dark Corner Evidence on the Diem Coup in South Vietnam November 1963 2020-11-01